Percussion-fuse.



J. N. STEUART.

PERCUSSION F USE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT 30, 1918,

1,299,054, Ptented Apr. 1, 1919..

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JAMES NOEL STEUART, OE BAYSWATER, LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO G.IBEATON & SON LIMITED, OF HOLLAND PARK, LONDON, ENGLAND.

PERCUSSION-FUSE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES NOEL STEUART, a subject of the King of GreatBritain; residing at 25 Pembridge Crescent, Bayswater, in the county ofLondon, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in orRelating to Percussion-Fuses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to percussion fuses which are particularlyapplicable for use with rifle grenades, hand grenades or shells.

According to this invention the firin pin or striker of the fuse is soconstructe and arranged that it is free to perform a limited movement inthe direction of the detonator on shock of discharge (or in the case ofhand gnenade by a blow of the hand) and to be returned by the reactionof a spring which moves the striker to its original position, this toand fro movement having the efiect of liberating a safety device whichin falling away renders the striker free to perform its full firingstroke on impact with an object.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into effect the same will now be more fully described with theaid of the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a section of agrenade embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an exterior view.

Figs. 8 and 4 are plan and elevation respectively of a detail.

a is the body of the grenade, b the detonator holder and c the firingpin or striker.

In the embodiment shown the safety device comprises a ring or collar (Zof such a character as to permit of its being sheared into segments onshock of discharge (or by a blow of the hand in the case of a handgrenade) said collar cl being fitted loosely between the head c of thestriker and the end of the chamber or casing 6 within which the strikerc operates against the action of the spring f. The portions or segmentsof the ring or collar which are to be separated or sheared are connectedby thin webs d capable of being fractured or severed by means of ashearing blade 0 in or on the head 0 of the striker c, the arrangementbeing such that the head of the striker will bind or hold the severedparts of the ring or collar d against the end of the casing 6 until thespring f reacts to return the striker to Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

Application filed September 30, 1918. Serial No. 256,274.

its normal position. Thus, the collar d may consist of a ring, see Figs.3 and 4, slitted at d and reduced or formed with flats at d to affordthe thin connecting webs d. In lieu of the webs d or their equivalentthe segments may be held together by wire or other appropriate meanscapable of being readily sheared or cut to free the segments on shock ofdischarge. The striker c is prevented from coming into contact with thedetonaitpr on its initial movement, while as the head 0 of the strikerreturns to its normal position, and thus releases the severed segments,the latter will fall away and permit the striker c to make its fullstroke and fire the detonator of the fuse b on impact with an object.The head 0 of the striker may be recessed at c to assist in retainingthe segments between the head of the striker and the end of the casingafter shearing, and thereby provide a safety device which prevents thestriker 0 moving a suficient distance to come into contact with thedetonator under shock of discharge.

The usual safety pin 9 for locking the striker 0 may be assed throughslots or openings in the casing e and an opening 0* in the striker c.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis 1. A percussion fuse for grenades or shells comprising a firing pin,means associated with said firing pin which while allowing it to move inthe direction of the detonator on shock of discharge prevents said pinfrom acting on the detonator during such initial forward movement, meansfor returning the firing pin to its normal position and freeing the pinto enable it to perform its full firing stroke on impact with an object.

2. A percussion fuse for grenades or shells comprising a firing pin, asafety device associated with said pin which while allowing it to move apredetermined distance on shock of discharge prevents said pin cominginto contact with the detonator of the fuse, means for returning thefiring pin to its initial position to release the safety device to allowthe said pin to perform its full firing stroke on impact with an object.

3. A percussion fuse for grenades or shells comprising a striker, meansassociated with said striker to consitute a safety device for preventingthe striker making a full firing stroke on shock of discharge, means forliberatingsaid safety device, and means-for returning-the striker to itsnormalposition. to

allow the safety device to :fall away whereby the striker may on itsnext forward movement make the full striking stroke. 1 v

4 A percussion fuse for grenades or shells comprislngi astriker, asegmentalcollar associa'ted with said striker, means for maintaining thecollar in positionto prevent the striker makinga full firing. stroke .onshock of discharge, and'means for releasing said collar during, thereturn movement of the striker toits initial position;

15 comprising a firing pin, a segmental collar Copies of this patent may'be obtained for '5. A percussionfuse'forgrenades orshells' associatedwith said pin, means for holding the segments intact. under normalconditions, means for dlsconnectingzsaid holding means,

and means for causingsaid segmentsto be releasedjto permit them to fallaway from the firing pin.

t 6. percussion fuse for. grenades or, shells comprising a firing pin, asafety device associatedwith saidpin, means'for releasing said safetydevice and holding itin the safety position on shock of discharge, said"means serving to permit the-said safety device to five can-ts each; byaddressing V the I "Gommissioner: otif'lBatents;

' Washington, D. G."

